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A few more images kindly sent to me by Julian V Bhalerao of the Wiverton Bee-eater and the Cromer Red-backed Shrike, enjoy. 

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I woke up late this morning, and had little thought in my mind other than cleaning the house in preparation for Leila’s return from Lincoln. But a text from Robert Smith to inform me a/the Salthouse Bee-eater had been re/found close to Glanford inspired a change of thought. That plus other good birds like Bluethroat and Red-back Shrike only encouraged me more to abandon my post at home and get into the field.  

I arrived at the Bee-eater around midday, with around 40-50 people stretched out along the minor road trying to find a view through the hedge. Luckily for me a gentleman offered me a view through his scope as soon as I climbed off the bike. After stunning scope views I continued to make use of the natural openings to view the bird. It seemed very relaxed and flew several times, landing in a similar place on the wires every time. 

European Bee-eater at Wiverton, taken by Robert J Smith

After the enjoyable time with the Bee-eater I headed off to Stiffkey to have a walk down by the wood and hopefully bump into the 1st summer male Red-back Shrike. It was all negative news on the Shrike as I bumped into returning birders, but I was more hopeful on my own birds now. David Norgate and David Appleton had pulled a possible Dusky Warbler on the point, so good birds were still arriving or yet to be found. A Lesser Whitethroat was about the best I could manage before the news of another 1st summer bird came through, this time a Red-breasted Flycatcher at Warham green’s western most track.

Olive Reville met me at Stiffkey and we made the short drive to Warham together. An awful lot of cars were parked at the concrete pad when we arrived, a picture that would have fitted a rarer bird than the one on show. Walking down we saw the crowd trying to catch glimpses of this energetic little bird as it moved around in cover. After a few fleeting glimpses, more prolonged views were had, but unfortunately not as good as John Furse’s shots below. Many thanks to John for letting me use his fantastic images.

First summer male Red-breasted Flycatcher taken by John Furse

With two very good birds twitched Oliver and I tried to get some birding done. Firstly we tried Warham green’s central track, but little more than the usual was seen. 

Stiffkey Fen was a little more diverse. Firstly a stunning Lesser Whitethroat showed very well on our walk to the sea wall. Plenty of Hirundines blasted about and a Common Buzzard showing white on the upper-tail made us take a second look, but further views picked out several leucistic type markings on the tail and wings. Around the fen a Single Bar-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Common Sandpiper and Oystercatchers. 

Cley gave us very little, except the warm sight of Steve West waiting for the female Bluethroat to appear by north hide. Alas it didn’t and we moved on to Cromer for the recently found adult male Red-back Shrike. 

Adult male Red-back Shrike, Cromer, taken by Simon Chidwick

The Red-backed Shrike showed reasonably well, but was always trying to stay low out of the building evening wind. This stunning Lanius was a lovely end to a fantastic days birding which included three new British birds and easily the most wonderful views I have ever had of one of my favourite birds, Lesser Whitethroat.

Also many thanks to everyone who allowed me to use there brilliant photos, all are credited underneath. 

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David Norgate and I had planned to comb a few local sites on the afternoon of the 16th, but a pager message alerting us to a Savi’s Warbler at Strumpshaw fen RSPB changed our plans. The bird had been present for over a week before the news was broadcast, this most likely because Savi’s Warbler a schedule one breeder. For more information about this follow link provided -Wildlife and countryside act 1981 

Savi’s Warblers are traditionally a crepuscular species. This means that the bird is most active and likely to be singing (Our only realistic chance of seeing the bird) at dawn or dusk, but with the reserve not too far away we had ago anyway. 

As we feared we had sight nor sound of the bird at Tower hide, with a Kingfisher being about the best bird in a couple of hours on the site. 

We nipped down to Buckenham where we had decent views of a spring Pectoral Sandpiper close to the old pumping station. Although this species is a regular vagrant from both North America and Siberia, a spring bird is a little more unusual in the UK. Also around the flooded are was a stunning male Ruff, several Redshank and three Avocet. 

The following day (17/05/12) I joined up with JDP and PH for an evening attempt with the Savi’s. With a few hours to spare before the show began we decided to have a look at Cantley and Buckenham.

Cantley was far from the delight it had been a week or so ago, with the Black neck Grebes long gone and very little wildfowl on the pits. A Hobby was seen on the walk down and a Common Sandpiper on the return journey. 

Buckenham say me retracing yesterdays steps down to the pumping house for the Pectoral Sandpiper. The bird was a first for JDP, so it was well worth it. Also this cracking wader was showing much better than the previous day and in somewhat better light conditions. Also noted was the same male Ruff, two Ringed Plover, Redshank, Avocet and a single drake Wigeon. 

We arrived at Strumpshaw around 6pm and made the short walk down to tower hide in order to wait for the Savi’s. A Bittern boomed from the reedbed, but little else was heard or seen. Whilst in the hide the Bittern continued its hunting song and was joined by Reed Warbler, Cuckoo and Song Thrush as the evening crept in. A Kingfisher hovered briefly and a Sparrowhawk unnerved the hide as it passed through the Savi’s favoured spot. 

We eventually had a brief glimpse of the bird in the reeds, but had to wait almost another two hours before it sang its mechanical insect-like song from half cover. Maneuvering several  times as the light died. 

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The Carabidae above is one that I have found in my back garden in Norwich. I have managed (thanks to staff at the Natural history museum insect forum) to put down a possible ID of Nebria brevicollis, although without a key I can’t be 100% certain. 

With Robert J Smith recently lending us a macro lens for our DLSR and his infectious interest in all aspects of natural history, I am sure it won’t be the last insect that I post. 

You can find Robert’s brilliant new blog at -http://robertsjsmith.blogspot.co.uk/

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All European Grebes are stunning creatures in breeding plumage, and Black necked Grebes are no exception to that rule. So three birds together at Cantley were hard to resist. David an myself arrived at Cantley early afternoon to find the three birds still on the main pit to the east of the beet factory. The birds showed well for the majority of the time, more at mercy to the wind than to our heavy presence on the bank.

Two of the three Black necked Grebes at Cantley, taken by David Norgate

Later in the evening Leila and myself took a drive out to Queen’s hill for a wonder round. En route a quiet remarkable albino Eurasian Jay was seen along a road close to the village of Ringland. The bird was seen on a wire fence before flying towards thick woodland with another Jay.

Queen’s hill itself was very mellow, with Mistle Thrush, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Kestrel being noted. Also this very washed out Green Carpet was seen.

Green Carpet, Queen’s hill, taken by Leila Sheikh

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A little time on the coast today produced a couple of female type Yellow Wagtails at Cley Eye field, c.10 Whimbrel at Salthouse and two Hobby over Blakeney.

Peacock Butterfly, Blakeney, taken by Leila Sheikh

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